Vanger, arr. "Operatica: Shine".

[] Huang, Mula, O'Flynn, Shakila, Jihae; Vanger, Osborn; produced, arranged, performed and programmed by Lord Vanger. No texts or translations. E-Magine EMA 61076-2

Operatica: Shine is an application of the pop-music "remix" technique (electronic rearrangement, essentially) to the genres of classical and opera. Although this CD is not the first attempt to give electronical treatment to classical tunes, this disc and its predecessor (Operatica: "O") are, according to the press materials, the first time actual classical vocalists have participated, thus lending "legitimacy" to the project. What matters more than legitimacy, of course, are the results, and most of the results are quite good. The opening cut is a groove-based version of Grieg's "Solveig's Song"; it opens with a slow, hyper-reverberant keyboard solo, plus some synthesizer effects, then the beat kicks in, followed by the soaring, soothing voice of soprano Ying Huang. Although my clubbing days are behind me, this track and several others strike me as eminently danceable.

The idea seems to have been to bridge the gap between opera, world music and techno-pop with material that will satisfy fans of all three genres. Lord ...